North Korea Conducts Intermediate-Range Strategic Missile Drill

North Korea test-fired an intermediate-range missile on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from its eastern region toward a target 1,000 km away in the East Sea.

The drill, overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, was designed to train troops on a hypersonic strategic weapon system and evaluate war deterrent reliability and mobility.

The launch occurred amid heightened tensions following a landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone last month that injured South Korean soldiers.